$16,000 is a lot of money! That’s a new car! That’s a semester’s worth of college education! It’s also the cost of traveling to 11 countries in 11 months to share the love of Jesus with his people. When I first found out the price of this trip, I was dumbfounded to say the least! I couldn’t even get the whole $800 I needed to go on that Mexico mission trip in High School! How in the world was I going to raise twenty times that amount?
After the initial shock subsided, I began to think logicially about the situation. This trip was God’s calling on my life: everything in my past that had worked out, and everything that hadn’t – all roads had led to here. I was made to do this, so of course God would provide! Some. The rest I could do myself. You see, I’ve always had an incredibly independent spirit. In fact, some of my first words were “Emily do it.” I had to accomplish everything without help in order to feel all grown up. This was no different. Unlike my 16 year old self, headed to Tijuana, I had a career now. I was making money! I had a paycheck every other week, tax returns to look forward to and Christmas money. I didn’t have near $16,000, but I had a good chunk of change. I could foot some of the bill…
So I began to fundraise, but only half hardily. I wrote sponsorship letters and spoke to churches, hoping I would receive the donations I needed to just get by. Yes I was passionate about the trip itself! Extremely passionate. And Excited! But in terms of support, I thought I only needed enough to cover what I couldn’t already pay for. By the time I hit $5,000, I began telling people I’d already reached my second deadline of $7,500. That’s when the fundraising stopped. Since I had enough to launch, I was set for awhile. I wasn’t going to put forth my own money until the last minute, but it was there. Or so I thought. Apathy rose within me, and aside from monthly pledges, my account became completely stagnant.
Then training camp happened.
I witnessed the joy and confidence my squad mates had as they talked about how this was their time; this was their journey. They were sure, because God had already been providing for them! If it wasn’t his plan, he wouldn’t be providing. That’s when the doubt started to creep in. What if this trip hadn’t been His plan for me? I wouldn’t have known because I was partially supporting myself. I hadn’t completely handed it to Him. I began to feel like I was cheating! I spent much of the week filled with uncertainty. If I was really going to let God do this, ALL of this, I’d have to raise $1,900 in less than a month. Was it possible?
If there was ever a time for God to come through, this was it!
When my squad finally offered prayer over people who hadn’t yet met their deadline, I felt convicted enough to step forward. I’d been graciously blessed with $5,600 worth of donations at that point, but I was still under the line. I’d let my independence get in the way of my faith. After that evening, I finally surrendered 100% of my funds to Him. I began praying that if I was truly meant for this race, he would show me.
And he did!
My stepping back allowed God to step forward. I became more on fire than I ever was before! Asking for help, especially financially, has never come easy to me, but one post on Facebook (the FUNd board) and my account began to skyrocket! I was blown away by people’s generosity. I was moved to tears as I watched God provide in ways I wouldn’t ever have expected. I never imagined how humbling fundraising could be, or how much intimacy and trust it would bring to my relationship with Him.
Throughout this whole fundraising process, I have been blessed by such an outstanding variety of people! From entire churches who have decided to stand beside me, to vet students roughly $300,000 in debt, young, single moms with schedules packed full of errands and child care, anonymous contributors and firm atheists who solely support my good works, I have been so incredibly touched by their selflessness! To all those who have donated, thank you from the bottom of my heart!! Whether it be $1 or $400, words cannot express how grateful I am for the money you’ve sacrificed, and the time you’ve spent working for that money. I’ve done nothing to deserve it and I can never repay you, but I now know that I could never do this without your help! There isn’t a day that goes by when I’m not filled with endless appreciation for each of your gifts.
I am SO happy to announce that thanks to you, I have OFFICIALLY met the deadline for launch!
I will be departing with the rest of my squad on July 3rd! Our first country will be the Dominican Republic.
I’m not going to ask for more donations in this blog entry. I won’t mention my next deadline or the date of my upcoming fundraiser. I just want to express my gratitude and relax in the peace of knowing this is God’s plan for me.
Thank you.
